Common Sense Media Review
By Diana Baron-Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Star-studded audio adventure centers LGBTQ+ community.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
THE TWO PRINCES is a modern fairytale that follows Prince Rupert (Noah Galvin) and Prince Amir (Ari'el Stachel) as they embark on a quest to break the curse that is slowly destroying their rival kingdoms, while simultaneously growing their relationship. The two must journey to the center of a fantastical forest where quicksand, giant wasps, and other dangers await. Meanwhile, the princes mothers, voiced by Christine Baranski and Shohreh Aghdashloo, band together to rescue the boys from the terrible fate that awaits them at the forest's heart with the help of the daring young knight named Joan (Samira Wiley). Other seasons center around the princes fighting to continuously protect their kingdom while also looking toward planning their wedding.
Is It Any Good?
With lush sound design and scoring, this delightful adventure plays with the storytelling potential of narrative audio while recasting the romance of a traditional fairytale with queer protagonists. The cast of The Two Princes features a slate of beloved actors hailing from both the stage and screen -- Christine Baranski as the imperious Queen Lavinia, Samira Wiley in the fierce role of Joan, and Mathew Rhys flexing his comedy chops as Sir Percy.
Fans of YA fantasy will enjoy this podcast for its short, immersive episodes and snappy dialogue. The accomplished cast carries off even the stiffest of moments with gusto, making the show a standout among current audio fictions for this age group. With three seasons streaming on Spotify and an upcoming screen adaptation in production at HBO Max, this lighthearted adventure story is a crowd pleaser as much for its unabashed queer romance plot lines as for its fresh approach to the genre of kids fantasy. Parents may become just as immersed in the compelling story as their kids and may even find themselves listening on their own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Two Princes highlights self acceptance. What do you love about yourself? What parts of yourself are more challenging to accept and how can you learn to embrace those parts as well?
Have you ever stood up to an authority figure? What did it feel like? What did you notice about the ways the main characters voiced their opinions and stood their ground with their parents?
How did this podcast change your view of what fairytales can look like? What elements were different about this fairytale than older fairytales? How would you want to see yourself reflected in a fairytale?
Podcast Details
- Release date : May 20, 2019
- Genre : Adventure
- Run time : 20 minutes
- Website : https://gimletmedia.com/shows/the-two-princes
- Production Company and Network : Gimlet Media
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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